RT (2020-02-14). Ending \'endless war\'? US & Taliban reach \'violence reduction agreement\' that could lead to Afghanistan pullout. rt.com Washington and Taliban militants have reportedly agreed on a seven-day \"violence reduction\" in Afghanistan. If upheld, it could open doors for another deal that would see US troops withdraw after 19 years of conflict. | The news came as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Pentagon chief Mark Esper met Afghan president Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to discuss the situation in the war-torn country. Both earlier hinted at some developments in negotiations with the Taliban, which Pompeo described as a \"pretty important breakthrough.\" | US President Donald Trump said on Thursday…

RT (2020-02-14). US & Taliban reach reduction of violence deal that \'could lead to troop withdrawal\' — official. rt.com The United States has reached a reduction of violence agreement with the Taliban that could lead to a US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Reuters quoted a senior administration official as saying on Friday. | The agreement for a seven-day \"reduction in violence\" to be followed by the start of all-Afghan peace talks within 10 days is \"very specific\" and covers the entire country including Afghan forces, AP reported. | The developments come as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper met Friday in Munich, Germany with Afghanistan\'s President Ashraf Ghani. They spoke on the sidelines o…

David Rosen (2020-02-14). Sanders vs. the Establishment Democrats: McGovern All Over Again? counterpunch.org It\'s a perfect time to recall a famous quote from one of the nation\'s foremost philosophers, Yogi Berra: Its \"déjà vu all over again.\" Is the Democratic Party replaying the lost saga of 2016 but with a very 2020 twist? Bernie Sander (D-VT) appears to have been robbed of the 2016 nomination, beaten out by Hillary Clinton (Sec. of

Jacob G. Hornberger (2020-02-14). U. S. Lies and Deaths in Afghanistan. counterpunch.org Last December the Washington Post published secret Pentagon documents showing the official lies that have undergirded the U.S. war on Afghanistan for the past 18 years. The opening paragraph of the article puts the matter bluntly: \"A confidential trove of government documents obtained by The Washington Post reveals that senior U.S. officials failed to tell

Vijay Prashad (2020-02-14). I am tired of holding other worlds in my fist. mronline.org In November 2019, the Bolivian army—with a nudge from the shadows—told its President Evo Morales Ayma to resign. Morales would eventually go to Mexico and then seek asylum in Argentina. Jeanine àÅñez, a far-right politician who was not in the line of succession, seized power; the military, the fascistic civil society groups, and sections of […] |

Staff (2020-02-14). One Billion Rising: Eve Ensler & Taína Asili Mark V-Day and Campaign to End Sexual Violence. democracynow.org This Valentine\'s Day, people around the world are taking to the streets to protest violence against women and girls. From the Philippines to India to Italy to Bolivia, thousands of women in more than 100 countries will reclaim public space through dance and performance as part of a global movement called One Billion Rising. The movement takes its name from the shocking statistic that one in three women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. One Billion Rising started on Valentine\'s Day 2012 and has continued to grow every year since. Participants say they won\'t stop dancing until violence…

RT (2020-02-14). Largest growth of global spending on defense in 10 years led by US, China — study. rt.com Global spending on defense rose by four percent in 2019, the largest growth in 10 years, led by big increases in the US and China, according to a study published on Friday. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said the rise was fueled by growing rivalries between big powers, new military technologies and rumbling conflicts, AFP reports. | Beijing\'s military modernization program is alarming Washington and helping drive US defense spending, the IISS said. Its annual \'Military Balance\' report said the increase alone in US spending from 2018 to 2019 — $53.4 billion — was almost as bi…

RT (2020-02-14). 'He didn't even trust me with a pen!' Russian tycoon Deripaska rubbishes Putin money laundering accusation. rt.com Billionaire Oleg Deripaska has poured cold water on American insinuations that he washed funds on behalf of President Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian officials. | According to Britain\'s Financial Times (FT), Deripaska called the accusations \"unsupported\" and \"just guesses, rumors and balderdash,\" adding that if someone brought \"something like this to a court in London … the judge would just tell them: \'Please get lost.\'\" | On Friday, a letter written by the US Treasury\'s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) was published by the FT, detailing the unclassified justifications of why the tycoon was sa…

RT (2020-02-14). Airlines\' losses set to skyrocket due to Covid-19 travel ban — UN aviation agency. rt.com Extended flight cancellations to China amid the coronavirus outbreak could cut global carriers\' revenues up to $5 billion in the first quarter, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization\'s (ICAO) estimates. | At least 70 airlines have canceled all international flights in and out of China and 50 others have reduced their operations in the country as the epidemic continues to spread, the agency said in a recent report. Thus, instead of a planned increase in passenger capacity, the companies saw a huge drop in passenger flows, losing from 16.4 to 19.6 million passengers compared to their earlier…

The Canary (2020-02-14). Facebook now allows paid political messages that manage to exploit its ad loophole. thecanary.co Facebook has decided to allow a type of paid political message that had sidestepped many of the social network\'s rules governing political ads.The policy change comes days after billionaire US presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg exploited a loophole to run humorous messages promoting his campaign on the accounts of popular Instagram personalities followed by millions of younger people.The change involves what Facebook calls \"branded content\" — sponsored items posted by ordinary users who are typically paid by companies or organisations. Advertisers pay the influential users directly to post about their…

RT (2020-02-14). NATO to resume Iraq training mission in coming days or weeks, top US commander says. rt.com NATO will resume its training mission in Iraq in the coming days or weeks, the alliance\'s top military commander said on Friday. US General Tod Wolters said the 500-strong mission would restart its work after receiving assurances from the Iraqi government, AFP reported. The mission was put on hold on January 4, and some NATO troops moved out of Iraq amid fears of reprisal attacks after the US killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on Baghdad. | \"As a result of the letter of response from Iraq over the course of the last 36 hours, we will now recommence the NATO Mission Iraq,\" Wolters…

MBNJSD (2020-02-14). Can the \"World\'s Second Superpower\" Rise From the Ashes of Twenty Years of War? dissidentvoice.org UK protest against iraq war February 15, 2003. (Credit: Stop the War Coalition) February 15 marks the day, 17 years ago, when global demonstrations against the pending Iraq invasion were so massive that the New York Times called world public opinion \"the second superpower.\" But the U.S. ignored it and invaded Iraq anyway. So what …

Ahmed Abdulkareem (2020-02-14). Yemen: UN Medical Air Bridge Little More Than Saudi PR Stunt Say Desperate Patients. mintpressnews.com Many Yemenis have described the much-lauded UN medical air bridge as little more than a public relations stunt aimed at improving Saudi Arabia\'s image in the world.

RT (2020-02-14). Houthis drop \'tax\' threat that jeopardized Yemen aid — report. rt.com Houthi rebels have dropped a threat to tax aid in Yemen, AFP quoted a UN official as saying on Friday. The move is seen as a significant step towards resolving a crisis that has jeopardized the world\'s biggest humanitarian operation. | UN leaders and humanitarian groups held talks in Brussels on Thursday to address obstruction by the Houthi militia that has threatened to sever the lifeline to millions at risk of starvation. They heard that vital supplies could be cut off, after humanitarian agencies complained of a deteriorating situation in the Houthi-controlled north where aid workers face arrest and intimid…

The Canary (2020-02-14). Huawei rejects new US charges against Chinese tech giant. thecanary.co The US justice department has added new criminal charges against Chinese tech giant Huawei and several subsidiaries, accusing the company of a brazen scheme to steal trade secrets from competitors in America.The new indictment also alleges the company provided surveillance equipment to Iran that enabled the monitoring of protesters during 2009 anti-government demonstrations in Tehran, and that it sought to conceal business that it was doing in North Korea despite economic sanctions there.The company disputed the allegations in a statement and said they were \"without merit\". | @WSJ against

Mark Gruenberg (2020-02-14). Senate follows House in banning money for Trump war on Iran. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—By a bipartisan 55-45 vote on Feb. 13, the GOP-run Senate followed the Democratic-run House and barred saber-rattling Donald Trump from spending any military money to make war on Iran. Eight Republicans joined all 45 Democrats and both independents in voting against Trump and against war on Iran. One of the eight, Maine\'s Susan Collins, …

RT (2020-02-14). Erdogan to help Pakistan stay off terrorism financing blacklist. rt.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said he would help Pakistan stay off a terrorism financing blacklist at a meeting of a global finance watchdog. The move, he said, would counter \"political pressure\" from Islamabad\'s critics. | The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which tackles money laundering, told Islamabad late last year that it could face blacklisting if it continued to apply inadequate controls over terrorism financing. The FATF is meeting next week in France. Support from Turkey and longtime allies like China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia could help Pakistan remain off the blacklist, Reut…

RT (2020-02-14). Russia and Saudi Arabia fight for share of India's huge oil market. rt.com Russia has put India on top of its priority list as it looks to ramp up crude exports and expand its downstream presence. | One of the last bulwarks of global crude demand, India has been in the thick of national NOCs\' attention — Saudi Arabia will from now on participate in India\'s Strategic Reserves and has signed up to build a greenfield 1.2mbpd refinery in the state of Maharashtra, the UAE-based ADNOC has joined Saudi Aramco in its refinery project and is seeking further investment opportunities. Ever since Rosneft bought the 400kbpd Vadinar Refinery (now known as Nayara) from Essar Oil in 2017, Russi…

Erik Molvar (2020-02-14). Trump\'s Gutting of NEPA Will Cut the Public Out of Public Lands Decisions. counterpunch.org The Trump administration is stampeding ahead with a rewrite of the regulationsimplementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This landmark law requires federal agencies to study—and let the public weigh in on—the environmental impacts of federal actions. Ironically, given NEPA\'s central purpose of including the public in environmental decision-making, the Trump administration is already cutting

Mike Miller (2020-02-14). Race and Class: Overcoming the Divides. counterpunch.org Preface The forthcoming 2020 election is again highlighting the country\'s apparently deep divides on race and class. A common formulation is that a hopelessly racist White working class is locked into the new Trump Republican Party which consciously has adopted a divide-and-conquer strategy based on race. The mainstream Democratic Party hope is that an electoral

Paul Street (2020-02-14). Things Said in Confidence to 4000 Close Friends This Week. counterpunch.org A medical issue on the [L] tracks (I\'m guessing someone collided with a front-car) kicked me and others off the CTA Red Line. A toothless old white woman who spoke like a poor Black woman cursed out loud for one minute straight to the disgust of most. I admired her fire and creativity. I ended

Russell Mokhiber (2020-02-14). NPR and the Escalating Attack on Single-Payer Health Care. counterpunch.org National Public Radio\'s Mara Liasson this weekend entered a new term into the corporate liberal establishment\'s attack on single payer healthcare. Mandatory Medicare for All. As in — do you want Bernie Sanders\' Mandatory Medicare for All — or Mayor Pete Buttigieg\'s Voluntary Medicare for Those Who Want It? It was the first time that

Michael Brennan (2020-02-14). Timeline: How the DNC Manipulated 2016 Presidential Race. counterpunch.org December 16, 2014: President Obama signs into law omnibus spending bill that increases maximum possible individual political contributions from $129,600 annually to $777,600, substantially increasing the amount of money flowing through party committees. (Congressional Research Services) April 7, 2015: A Clinton campaign memo to the DNC articulates \"Pied Piper\" strategy to elevate the most extreme Republican candidates: \"Our hope

Joseph Natoli (2020-02-14). Vichy Democrats vs. the Master Voice. counterpunch.org One reading of the present shows us a hyped economic reality but also political and cultural realities hyped so far that simulacra is quite easily digested and regurgitated as reality. In a world of simulacra, reality is not only a vacated former presence, like a former tenant, but unrecognizable in any reappearance. It\'s a war

Andrew Levine (2020-02-14). Mayor Mike, Worse Than Mayor Pete. counterpunch.org Michael Bloomberg is essentially an old school Republican. He hates Trump, the worst American president ever, but he loved George W. Bush, the second worst president in modern times. He may honestly think that black and brown lives matter, but, as mayor of New York City, he showed, time and again, that, for him gentrification — and its concomitants, mass incarceration of young black and Latino men, and brutal \"law and order\" policing

Jennifer Matsui (2020-02-14). The Doomsday Cuckoo Clock. counterpunch.org Even when he\'s losing, Donald Trump wins (and bigly!) every time. His secret? He knows how to tap into our nihilism with the same technique he used to milk investors of his real estate schemes. If greed is the stated ideology of capitalism, then nihilism is its less overt philosophical underpinning. A system of mass

RT (2020-02-14). Don\'t believe the hype: MSM plays on coronavirus alarm with fear-mongering stories about everyday viruses. rt.com In the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, mainstream media outlets have pounced on fears of deadly viral outbreaks for easy clickbait headlines. But is there really anything to fear? | The Yaravirus is an up-and-coming media sensation, complete with a tropical home and an evocative name. Found lurking in an artificial lake in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, and named for a mythical mermaid that lures unsuspecting men to their death, Yaravirus has serious potential to generate headlines. The fact that it can only transfer between amoebas, and therefore presents no threat to humans, does not…

Whitney Webb (2020-02-14). NYC Taxpayers Spending Millions on Cyber Center with Controversial Ties to Israeli Intelligence. mintpressnews.com New York City taxpayers are on the hook for a multi-million dollar cyber center in the heart of Manhattan with deep ties to Israel\'s high-tech intelligence apparatus.

Andre Vltchek (2020-02-14). The Philippines are Choosing New Allies: Asia is Watching. dissidentvoice.org Now what? President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines is outraged. He wants an end to the U.S. military presence in his country. He wants to curb all cooperation with the U.S. armed forces. He hits hard, talks big. And his people seem to be behind him, no matter what — his popularity rating is high …

Staff (2020-02-14). Virus Cases Rise as Experts Question China\'s Numbers. truthdig.com BEIJING — Infections and deaths from the new virus in China ballooned for a second straight day Friday, on paper at least, as officials near the epicenter of the outbreak struggled to keep up with a backlog of patients\' lab work. | The acceleration in cases was not necessarily an indicator of a surge in the illness known as COVID-19 because the hardest-hit province of Hubei and its capital of Wuhan changed the way it counted cases. But public health experts wrestled with what exactly could be deduced from the numbers given the shift in approach. | \"If you change the way you count cases, that obviously confo…

RT (2020-02-14). US \'ready to help\' N. Korea combat virus — State Department. rt.com The United States expressed deep concern about North Korea\'s vulnerability to the outbreak of a new virus and said it was ready to support efforts by aid organizations to contain the spread of the illness in the country. | Pyongyang has moved to strengthen quarantines and other preventive measures after the illness outbreak in China, North Korea\'s neighbor and closest ally. | \"We strongly support and encourage the work of US and international aid and health organizations to counter and contain the spread of coronavirus\" in North Korea, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. \"The United States is rea…

RT (2020-02-14). Prank call Greta strikes again: Bernie \'agrees\' to rap collaboration with Eilish & West, but smells a rat over \'KGB sleeper agent\'. rt.com Bernie Sanders would apparently wear a gold chain and rap in front of posh cars in order to battle climate change, an idea suggested by Russian pranksters. But being called a KGB sleeper agent proved to be too much. | The Democratic primary frontrunner seems to be the latest target of the comedy duo Vovan and Lexus, who have for years been playing pranks on the world\'s leading politicians. Their latest hoax was to phone people while posing as Greta Thunberg, the teen climate activist, and her father. Representative Maxine Waters and actor Joaquin Phoenix were previously pranked by the fake Greta, and now it wa…

Peter Kuper (2020-02-14). Visualizing the Climate Crisis in Barcelona. thenation.com Around the world, artists sound the alarm.

RT (2020-02-14). The show goes on: Olympics organizers told there is \'no case\' for moving or canceling 2020 Tokyo Games. rt.com The organizers of the Olympic Games in Tokyo have been told by medical experts that there is no case for the Summer Olympics to be canceled or moved due to the coronavirus outbreak. | The World Health Organization (WHO) informed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that there is no need to consider moving the Games or canceling them outright as a result of the outbreak. | The event kicks off on July 24, with Japanese organizers saying that testing and containment measures will be ramped up after the country\'s first confirmed coronavirus-related death. | Head of the IOC\'s coordination commission John Coate…

RT (2020-02-14). Barr assigns outside prosecutor to review Russiagate\'s Michael Flynn\'s case — report. rt.com General Michael Flynn seems to be getting a lifeline from the attorney general following his claim that prosecutors in the Mueller investigation \"concocted the alleged false statements\" he was accused of making. | Attorney General William Barr has assigned an outside prosecutor to examine the criminal case against US President Donald Trump\'s former national security advisor, according to a report from the New York Times. | St. Louis prosecutor Jeff Jenson is heading the team reexamining the Justice Department\'s case against Flynn. The second look at Flynn\'s case is part of a larger probe by Barr to go over pol…

RT (2020-02-14). It\'s… alive! Scientists discover GIANT viruses that blur line between the living & the dead. rt.com Researchers who sifted through human saliva, animal feces, and various water sources have found hundreds of giant viruses with unique abilities we\'ve never seen before, blurring the definition of what it means to be alive. | The international team, led by scientists from University of California, Berkeley discovered this new class of giant phages (viruses that infect bacteria) that can have almost four times the number of genomes typically found in phages, with some reaching as much as 15 times normal size, with 735,000 bases of DNA. | Not only are they massive but these giant viruses are also advanced (relati…

Special to People\'s World (2020-02-14). Sanders says his health plan would protect culinary workers in Nevada. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday issued a statement saying his Medicare for All plan would protect the benefits workers with good union-negotiated health plans currently have. He issued the statement after Culinary Workers Union Local 226 announced it would not endorse in the 2020 Nevada Democratic caucus: \"I very much appreciate the struggle …

Mark Gruenberg (2020-02-14). Warren calls for impeachment of the Attorney General. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has become the first prominent lawmaker to demand House impeachment of GOP President Donald Trump\'s attorney general, William Barr, for Barr\'s kowtowing to Trump\'s demand to cut the court sentence of convicted top Trump campaign fixer and lackey Roger Stone. Together, the Trump-Barr sequence represents \"a descent into …

Staff (2020-02-14). Post-Impeachment, House Democrats Set Sights on Barr. truthdig.com WASHINGTON — House Democrats frustrated over Democrats have demanded more information about Barr\'s intervention in the case of Roger Stone, a longtime Trump confidant who was

RT (2020-02-14). Canadian energy giant \'funding\' Oregon sheriff\'s unit to thwart protests against one of its own pipeline projects — report. rt.com A Canadian fossil fuel company \"bought\" a sheriff\'s unit in Oregon with the aim of controlling and monitoring the behavior and activities of anti-gas pipeline activists and environmentalists, the Intercept has revealed. | In November 2018, Coos County Sheriff\'s Office — which has closely monitored local opposition to the Jordan Cove Energy Project — hosted a two-day training event for officers, instructing them on how to deal with battles against protesters. | Yet, the event costs of $26,250 were paid by Pembina Pipeline Corp. — the Canadian energy company that owns the Jordan Cove liquefied nat…

The Canary (2020-02-14). Hundreds more homes face flooding as \'perfect storm\' Dennis approaches. thecanary.co A \"perfect storm\" of heavy rain, strong winds and melting snow could leave hundreds of homes across the UK flooded this weekend, experts have warned.Storm Dennis is forecast to batter large swathes of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with 70mph winds and up to 140mm (5.5inches) of rain in some areas.The Environment Agency (EA) said the flood impact from the weather system is likely to be worse than last weekend\'s Storm Ciara due to rain falling on already saturated ground. | Are you prepared for Find ou…

RT (2020-02-14). \'We did not forget, we did not forgive:\' India marks 1 year since attack that killed 40 soldiers & led to Kashmir flare-up. rt.com India has unveiled a memorial for the 40 troops killed in a suicide bombing in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir a year ago on Friday. The incident sparked a tense standoff that brought the region to the brink of war. | Tributes to the servicemen that lost their lives in the February 14, 2019 attack in Kashmir\'s disputed Pulwama district were led by PM Narendra Modi and other top government, as well as military, officials. | \"They were exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting our nation. India will never forget their martyrdom,\" Modi tweeted early Friday morning. | Tributes…

RT (2020-02-14). Civilian killed, others injured as Pakistani shell lands near mosque during shootout in disputed Kashmir — Indian police. rt.com One civilian was killed and several others were injured by artillery fire near a mosque after the Pakistani army violated a ceasefire in disputed Kashmir, India\'s police chief has said. | Pakistani troops fired heavy mortars and small arms toward army outposts in the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch District of India\'s Jammu and Kashmir region on Friday, Indian media reported, citing military officials. | The district\'s Superintendent of Police Ramesh Kumar Angral said that a shell exploded near a mosque in the Shahpur area, killing a civilian and injuring three others when they were heading for Friday pray…

RT (2020-02-14). \'Transitional justice for rest of the world, but not for own colonial past\': India slams Western approach an UNSC. rt.com Taking aim at a \"one-size-fits-all\" approach to settling conflicts on the world stage, India\'s deputy UN envoy said Western nations have imposed a form of \"justice\" on the world that ignores their own colonial legacies. | Historical injustices committed by colonial regimes are \"rarely the focus of transitional justice,\" Indian Deputy Permanent Representative Nagaraj Naidu told the UN Security Council on Thursday. He was referring to a model of conflict resolution focused on accountability for past crimes and abuses \"following military dictatorships, apartheid, and post-Cold War theaters.\" | \"Steeped in Western…

RT (2020-02-14). Information wars: GOP lawmaker on quest to officially declare CNN and the Washington Post \'fake news\'. rt.com In these times of political division, Americans on the far ends of the political spectrum often accuse each other of misinformation — but one GOP lawmaker wants CNN and the Washington Post to be officially declared \"fake news.\" | Micah Van Huss, a Republican state lawmaker from Tennessee, has introduced a

RT (2020-02-14). Triggered liberal laments \'damage\' done by \'South Park,\' completely misses why it\'s the show this culture needs. rt.com A string of tweets from writer Dana Schwartz slamming the \"cultural damage\" done by \'South Park\' have gone viral, and now fans are defending the controversial show, saying it\'s exactly what today\'s bubble-wrapped culture needs. | Don\'t count \'She-Hulk\' writer Dana Schwartz as a \'South Park\' fan anytime soon. | \"It seems impossible to overstate the cultural damage done by \'South Park,\'\" Schwartz tweeted this week. She continued by saying the show, which has aired 23 seasons since 1997, \"portrayed earnestness as the only sin and taught that mockery is the ultimate inoculation against all criticism.\" | In retrosp…

RT (2020-02-14). \'Maybe it was the Belgians\': Netanyahu claims ignorance after reports of missiles fired over Damascus. rt.com Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed reports that his military launched a missile attack on the Syrian capital, Damascus, saying that perhaps the \"Belgian Air Force\" was responsible. | In an interview with Radio Haifa on Friday, Netanyahu said he didn\'t know \"what happened last night\" and that \"maybe it was the Belgian Air Force\" that launched missiles over Syria. | \"I don\'t comment on one operation or another,\" he added. | Syrian state media reported Thursday night that its air defenses had thwarted a missile attack and intercepted several \"hostile targets\" launched from the Israeli-occupie…

RT (2020-02-14). Anti-BDS laws are meant to censor & control speech, journalist Abby Martin tells RT after suing Georgia govt over cancelled talk. rt.com Barred from speaking at a public university over her refusal to sign a pledge of allegiance to Israel, journalist Abby Martin is now suing the state of Georgia, arguing its anti-BDS legislation sets fire to the First Amendment. | Slated to give a keynote talk at a media literacy conference at Georgia Southern University later this month, Martin was asked to sign what amounts to a loyalty oath to the State of Israel, mandated under a 2016 Georgia law barring the government from hiring contractors who boycott Israeli products or associate with the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Martin t…

Eds. (2020-02-14). Over 4000 Professors and Scholars from across Canada and around the world sign \"Statement of Solidarity with the Wet\'suwet\'en people of British Columbia\" mronline.org We ask that the illegal work on Unist\'ot\'en territory by Coastal Gas Link be immediately stopped. We request that the federal and provincial governments respect Indigenous rights as outlined in our constitution, in countless court rulings, as well as the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous people (UNDRIP) and \'Anuc niwh\'it\'en (Wet\'suwet\'en law) |

RT (2020-02-14). Syrian military helicopter shot down near Aleppo, crew killed — state media. rt.com A Syrian Army helicopter was destroyed by a missile during an operation against anti-government forces near Aleppo, and its crew was killed, Syrian state-run media reported. | Citing a military source, SANA said the chopper was hit by \"a hostile missile\" on Friday afternoon in the area where Turkish-backed groups operate. The Syrian troops were clearing the militants\' hideouts in the vicinity of Aleppo that day. | Turkish outlet Anadolu said that the helicopter was brought down within the Idlib \'de-escalation zone\' set up by Russia and Turkey, which borders Syria\'s northwestern Aleppo Province. | Footage, circ…

Andre Vltchek (2020-02-14). Western Anti-Chinese Propaganda Exaggerates Coronavirus Danger, Creates Panic. globalresearch.ca Now it is becoming obvious who China\'s friends are, and who her enemies are. In the West, many nations and individuals are celebrating the short-term difficulties that the Chinese nation is facing, pouring salt into the wound, while giving birth …

RT (2020-02-14). Anti-BDS laws are meant to censor & control speech, journalist Abby Martin tells RT after suing Georgia govt over cancelled talk. rt.com Barred from speaking at a public university over her refusal to sign a pledge of allegiance to Israel, journalist Abby Martin is now suing the state of Georgia, arguing its anti-BDS legislation sets fire to the First Amendment. | Slated to give a keynote talk at a media literacy conference at Georgia Southern University later this month, Martin was asked to sign what amounts to a loyalty oath to the State of Israel, mandated under a 2016 Georgia law barring the government from hiring contractors who boycott Israeli products or associate with the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Martin t…

South Front (2020-02-14). Video: Syrian Army Gives Turkey \"Flick on Nose\" in Nayrab, Secures Entire Aleppo-Damascus Highway. globalresearch.ca For the first time in about 8 years of the war, Syrian government forces have established control of the entire M5 highway, which runs from the border with Jordan through Damascus, Homs and Hama to Aleppo. | During the first half …

Almasdar News (2020-02-14). Video: Residents of Syrian Town Open Fire on US Armed Forces Patrol. globalresearch.ca A new video from the Al-Qamishli countryside was released this afternoon following a skirmish between the U.S. Armed Forces and residents of Khirbat Amo. | According to a report from the Al-Hasakah Governorate, the residents of Khirbat Amo attempted to block …

Irwin Jerome (2020-02-14). Traditional Indigenous and White Man\'s Conflicting Rules of Law: A Coming to Terms that Hasn\'t Been Resolved Since \"First Contact\" globalresearch.ca The controversy now erupting throughout Canada over the issue of the construction of the TransMountain Oil Pipeline is revealing a fundamental unresolved impasse that has existed since first contact in the New World between the opposing philosophies and rules of …

Jim Miles (2020-02-14). The Age of Illusions — How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory. globalresearch.ca Andrew J.Bacevich has written an interesting, coherent, and timely work, The Age of Illusions. In a clear fashion it describes how Donald J. Trump is not the cause of current U.S. problems both …

Prof. Joseph H. Chung (2020-02-14). The Political Economy of Corruption: Corruption Kills People, Ruins the Economy, Violates Human Rights. globalresearch.ca The whole world is facing the deepening and widening corruption which challenges the very survival of the free democracy and the free market economy. | Korea has been suffering for last 70 years from the corruption culture. But owing to courageous …

Mark Taliano (2020-02-14). Regime Change Wars Have No Basis in International Law. globalresearch.ca We\'re living in times of war psychosis. Regime Change wars have no basis in international law. They are entirely illegal, and they are all based on lies. We have seen the results, which are always catastrophic for all but certain …

Igal Berenshtein (2020-02-14). Invisible Mega Oil Spill Beyond the Deepwater Horizon Oil Slick Satellite Footprint. globalresearch.ca Introduction | The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout was a mega oil spill, introducing ~795 million liters of live oil into the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) with oil slicks covering an estimated area of 149,000 km2 (1). As a result, vast …

Tony Cartalucci (2020-02-14). London Attack: West\'s Terrorists Bite the Hand that Feeds Them (Again). globalresearch.ca The latest incident in London was so entirely preventable that it is difficult to describe it as anything less than deliberate. | In yet another headline-grabbing terror attack — an armed man in south London left several injured — some seriously …

RT (2020-02-13). US & Taliban negotiated proposal for 7-day reduction in violence, Pentagon chief Esper says. rt.com The United States and the Taliban have negotiated a proposal for a seven-day reduction in violence, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Thursday. | \"We\'ve said all along that the best, if not only, solution in Afghanistan is a political agreement,\" Esper told reporters in Brussels. \"Progress has been made on this front and we\'ll have more to report on that soon.\" | \"It will be a continual evaluative process as we go forward — if we go forward,\" Reuters quoted Esper as saying. | Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday there had been \"notable progress\" in continuing talks between the US and the…

Dave Lindorff (2020-02-13). The Red-Baiting of Bernie Sanders Has Begun and is Already Becoming Laughable. counterpunch.org With Bernie Sanders now having won New Hampshire (and probably Iowa, where he won the popular vote) and confirmed his position as the frontrunner for president in the Democratic Party primaries (the New York Times\' poll guru Nate Silver is giving him a better than 40% chance of gaining enough delegates by the end of

Eric A. Gordon (2020-02-13). Nevada\'s higher union density and racial diversity will shape caucus outcome. peoplesworld.org In the lead-up to Feb. 22 Caucus Day in Nevada, early voting will take place Feb. 15—18. Nevada is the third state in the country to hold caucuses or a primary election, and the first Western state, after Iowa and New Hampshire. Early voting is a new feature for 2020, in 80 polling stations around …

Staff (2020-02-13). Did Amy Klobuchar Send an Innocent Teenager to Life in Prison? Questions Mount over Her Record as DA. democracynow.org After a surprising third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is attempting to gain ground in the national polls. But Klobuchar is also facing mounting scrutiny over her record as a district attorney in Minnesota. The Minneapolis NAACP, Black Lives Matter Twin Cities and other racial justice groups recently called on Klobuchar to suspend her presidential campaign following a shocking investigation by the Associated Press. The AP report centered on the case of Myon Burrell, an African-American teenager who was sentenced to life in prison over the 2002 murder of 11-year-old Tye…

Medea Benjamin (2020-02-13). Can the World\'s Second Superpower Rise From the Ashes of Twenty Years of War. mintpressnews.com While our government\'s war propaganda has convinced many Americans that we are powerless to stop its catastrophic wars, it has failed to convince most Americans that we are wrong to want to.

RT (2020-02-13). Russian authorities investigate after photos emerge of Boris Nemtsov murderer allegedly enjoying prison \'feast\'. rt.com The 2015 killing of Boris Nemtsov shocked Russians, and now photographs posted online of the man who assassinated him apparently posing in front of a slap-up meal are generating considerable anger. | The images, taken in an Irkutsk penal colony, show Zaur Dadaev and a group of other men surrounded by kebabs, soups, fruits, and juices. In response, Russian prison authorities have launched an investigation to determine the conditions in which he is being held. | Grilled kebabs, apples and fruit juice. Boris Nemtsov\'s assassin, Zaur Dadayev, (back left, standing) relaxing with friends in a Russian penal colony.

The Canary (2020-02-13). Number of female homicide victims at highest level since 2006. thecanary.co This article contains description of domestic violence and abuse that some readers and survivors may find distressing.The number of women and girls killed in homicides in England and Wales soared by nearly 10% in a year to the highest in more than a decade, official figures show.Some 241 females were victims of murder, manslaughter or infanticide in the 12 months to March 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).The rise from 220 the previous year is the second annual increase and the highest number since the year ending March 2006, when there were also 241.Almost half (48%) of the adult women…

RT (2020-02-13). UNSC endorses 55-point road map for Libya, Russia doubts it can be implemented. rt.com The UN Security Council has endorsed a 55-point road map for ending the war in Libya, and condemned the recent increase in violence in the oil-rich North African country. | The vote on the British-drafted resolution was 14-0 on Wednesday. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he abstained because of \"serious doubts\" about whether the resolution can be implemented and end the war between rival governments \"in the way we\'d like to see it.\" | Referring to the conference on Libya held in the German capital on January 19, Nebenzia said the Berlin plan \"has one defect… and that is a lack of clearly expressed co…

RT (2020-02-13). Russia declassifies previously unseen papers and PHOTOS of pivotal 1945 recapture of 'fortress city' Budapest from Nazis. rt.com The Soviet offensive in Hungary and siege of its capital Budapest was a key milestone in defeating the Nazis. For its 75th anniversary, Russia has declassified archived documents and photos, giving new insights into the bloodbath. | Hungary was an ally of Nazi Germany, providing troops and resources for the war effort, sharing in its land grabs and pillaging of conquered territories, as well as collaborating in war crimes. But as the tide turned on the battlefields, the relationship became strained, as the government in Budapest weighed up its options and was preparing to leave the Axis camp. | In March 1944,…

RT (2020-02-13). Sad face emoji? US social media giants Facebook & Twitter fined by Moscow court as server location impasse intensifies. rt.com Facebook and Twitter were each fined four million rubles ($62,900) by a Moscow court on Thursday. It marks an escalation in a standoff between the American social media giants and Russian regulators. | The core of the problem is that both companies have refused to move servers containing the data of Russian users to Russia, as required under Russian law. LinkedIn, another high-profile US networking site, has already been blocked for failing to comply with the legislation. | Facebook and Twitter have ignored the rule for years, and it was felt their huge popularity helped deter Russian officials from forcing th…

RT (2020-02-13). Amending constitution is up to Russian people, we\'ll do what they vote for — Putin. rt.com Planned change of the Russian basic law can only be enacted if the Russian people give an unequivocal mandate for it, President Vladimir Putin told a working group preparing the amendments. | \"The thing that is important to me is that the law on constitutional amendment comes into force only after the results of a national vote are tallied. It has to be a true plebiscite so that the citizens of Russia acted as the authors of those changes,\" he said. | The changes in the Russian constitution proposed by Putin last month are meant to readjust the Russian governance system. A strict two-term limit for the preside…

RT (2020-02-13). Russia urges Turkey against \'provocative comments\' on Syria. rt.com Moscow has called for restraint after a Turkish parliamentarian blamed Russia for the recent deaths of Turkish troops in clashes with Syrian government forces attempting to liberate the militant-held Idlib province. | Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi, MHP), had argued in the Turkish parliament that Moscow and Damascus were responsible for the deaths of 13 Turkish soldiers over the past week. | \"We consider it unacceptable to use the tragic events to \'score points\' in the domestic political debate,\" the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday,…

RT (2020-02-13). Phew! \'Nothing is Scandinavian\' ad republished as airline SAS is told its critics are actually Putin\'s trolls & \'useful idiots\'. rt.com Nothing shows that your values are granite-strong quite like pulling a much-criticized commercial and then reinstating it to a chorus of media voices proclaiming that the negative feedback is just a Russian psy-op. | The Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) video, which declares that essentially all Scandinavian culture is \"copied\" and encourages people to fly to lands both near and far to find more things to borrow, is back in action. The company

RT (2020-02-13). \'As long as I\'m president we will have \'mother\' & \'father\': Putin backs traditional family values once again. rt.com Russia will not introduce politically correct terminology such as \"parent #1\" and \"parent #2\" any time soon, Putin told a constitutional reform working group on Thursday, as they discussed family values in Russia. | As for \'parent #1\' and \'parent #2\', I have already publicly said it and I will repeat it once more: as long as I am president, we will not have parents #1 and #2, it will be \'mother\' and \'father\'. | One of the working group members, Russian lawmaker Olga Batalina, told the president that many people in Russia are concerned about the fate of the traditional family and would like to see it protected…

RT (2020-02-13). Legendary Soviet spy who saved Krakow from Nazi-made flood dies days after turning 103. rt.com A Soviet spy credited with saving the Polish city of Krakow from devastation has died in Moscow. His biography reads like a thriller novel, from battling Nazi invaders in Poland to training elite commandos in the 1980s. | Over his long life, Aleksey Botyan was many things. He was born in 1917, just as the Russian Empire was collapsing and shattering into pieces. His family lived in the territory that became part of Poland in the 1920s. | Fighting since day one: | He might have lived as a village schoolteacher — his first choice of career — but in 1939 he was conscripted into the Polish Army j…

RT (2020-02-13). \'Snake ecstasy\': Russian synchronized swimming champion charms fans with underwater routine (VIDEO). rt.com Russian Olympic synchronized swimming champion Vlada Chigireva has wowed her fans with a graceful and mesmerizing underwater routine. | In a 30-second video, clip the 25-year-old swimmer can be seen waving and twirling at the bottom of a swimming pool, making choreographed moves which she compared to a snake\'s wriggle. | \"New type of dance — snake ecstasy,\" the athlete captioned…

RT (2020-02-13). INDESTRUCTIBLE: Kalashnikov expert tries & FAILS to destroy iconic WWII PPSh-41 submachine gun (VIDEO). rt.com Kalashnikov Concern gun experts have put an iconic WWII-era PPSh-41 submachine gun through a stress test, trying to destroy it with continuous full-auto shooting. The 78-year-old weapon, however, did not give up easily. | The renowned gun maker produced a new video in its \'Destroyers of Weapons\' series. Unlike previous ones, Kalashnikov did not put one of its own guns through a full-auto torture, testing a true classic instead — a legendary wartime PPSh-41 submachine gun, designed by Georgy Shpagin back in 1941. | A whopping 913 7.62×25mm Tokarev rounds, packed in box and drum magazines, were pre…

RT (2020-02-13). Global oil demand to face 1st quarterly drop in more than a decade — IEA. rt.com The International Energy Agency (IEA) has cut its 2020 growth forecast, saying that global energy demand is going to fall to the lowest level since 2011, having been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. | The aftermath of the epidemic is set to drive down oil demand by 435,000 barrels a day in the first three months of 2020, compared to the same period one year ago. This will mark the first quarterly contraction in more than a decade and will have an impact on annual results, the IEA said in its oil market report, released on Thursday. | \"We have cut our 2020 growth forecast by 365 kb/d to 825 kb/d, the lowes…

RT (2020-02-13). Emotet trojan spreads via Wi-Fi, capitalizes on coronavirus fears; here\'s how to protect yourself. rt.com Cybersecurity analysts are warning about a Trojan called \'Emotet\' which can spread across Wi-Fi networks, loading a variety of malware payloads which threaten sensitive data. Here we explore how you can protect yourself. | How has it spread? | Emotet reemerged in late 2019, having initially been spotted in 2018, and spread via phishing emails with Microsoft documents attached containing malicious code embedded within. More recently, hackers have used the ongoing coronavirus crisis as a means to spread the malware. | The hackers pose as regional health officials and scare targets with tailored messages in order…

RT (2020-02-13). Shale gas drillers are facing a perfect storm. rt.com Natural gas prices under $2/MMBtu have hit Appalachian shale gas drillers hard, but the longer the gas glut wears on, the deeper the problems will become. With each passing week, the shale industry reveals more financial stress. | On Monday, analysts at Piper Sandler downgraded their near-term outlook for Range Resources and Gulfport Energy, two Appalachian drillers, to Neutral from Overweight, citing a \"deteriorating\" outlook. An analyst with the firm pointed to the global glut for LNG, the coronavirus, collapse of prices and force majeure declarations. | US nymex natural gas prices have been trading below $2…

RT (2020-02-13). Japanese Health Ministry confirms first coronavirus death. rt.com Japan on Thursday confirmed its first coronavirus death, according to Health Minister Katsunobu Kato. The victim was a woman in her 80s living in the Kanagawa prefecture, which borders Tokyo, Kato told reporters. | Meanwhile, a cruise ship which spent two weeks at sea after being turned away by five countries over fears that someone aboard might have the coronavirus finally arrived at a port in Cambodia on Thursday. | The MS Westerdam, carrying 1,455 passengers and 802 crew, docked in Sihanoukville in the evening after anchoring offshore early in the morning to allow Cambodian officials to board the vessel and…

RT (2020-02-13). China deploys 2,600 military medics to help fight coronavirus as Wuhan & Hubei party chiefs sacked. rt.com Hundreds of military medics will descend on coronavirus-stricken Wuhan to help tackle the epidemic as the number of confirmed cases worldwide surpasses 60,000, with the death toll leaping over 1,300. | The first installment of 1,400 military medical personnel touched down in the city in central China worst affected by the ongoing viral epidemic on Thursday, the Chinese Defense Ministry reported. | The medics represent several branches of the Chinese armed forces, including the Navy, Air Force, armed police, logistic and strategic support forces, and even the Rocket Force. | The current reinforcements are not t…

RT (2020-02-13). Syria air defenses shot down \'hostile missiles\' over Damascus fired from Israeli-occupied Golans — state media. rt.com Syria\'s air defenses have thwarted a missile attack, intercepting several \"hostile targets\" launched towards the capital, Damascus, Syrian state media reported. | The attack reportedly did not result in any damage or casualties. | \"The hostile missiles came from the occupied Golan … and they were downed before they reached their targets,\" a military source said, as cited by Syrian SANA news agency. | The agency reported earlier, citing own correspondent, that the missiles came from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel, which usually does not comment on its bombing incursions into Syria…

Staff (2020-02-13). The Wet\'suwet\'en Fight Against New Pipeline Spreads Across Canada with Blockades & Occupations. democracynow.org A major anti-pipeline struggle continues in Canada, where protests have broken out across the country in solidarity with Wet\'suwet\'en land defenders whose sovereign land in northern British Columbia was raided last week and over the weekend by Canadian police. Dozens were arrested in the days-long raid of unceded indigenous territories, where hereditary chiefs have been in a protracted battle to protect their land from the construction of TransCanada\'s 400-mile, $4.7 billion Coastal GasLink pipeline. The raids took place about 700 miles north of Vancouver and sparked outrage across the country. In Ontario, a Moha…

Louise Richards (2020-02-13). What is really going on in Nicaragua? peoplesworld.org Mainstream media lost no time in seizing yet another opportunity to vilify Nicaragua unfairly in the wake of an attack by armed men on the indigenous community of Alal, near the town of Bonanza in Bosawas on January 29. The BBC published a piece under the headline \"Six indigenous people \'massacred\' in Nicaragua,\" reporting uncorroborated …

RT (2020-02-13). Pakistani court suspends corporal punishment for children \'in good faith for their benefit\'. rt.com –ê court in Pakistan has suspended until further notice a penal code article that activists say allowed teachers to physically punish students. | On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court suspended Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Court, which deals with the power parents, teachers, and legal guardians have over children. The section in question says that \"Nothing which is done in good faith for the benefit of a person under twelve years of age… is an offence by reason of any harm which it may cause.\" | The decision came as the result of a petition by famous pop singer and human rights campaigner She…

RT (2020-02-13). We WILL protect you — or else: NATO members agree to expand Iraq mission, without regard for Baghdad\'s permission. rt.com NATO has vowed to expand its training operations in Iraq, paused last month after the US assassination of a top Iranian general. With growing anger in the country over foreign meddling, Baghdad is reluctant to OK the plan. | The alliance agreed \"in principle\" to \"enhance\" its training mission in Iraq after a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. When asked whether Baghdad had approved the project, the NATO head came up short, however. | \"NATO is in Iraq on the invitation of the Iraqi Government, and we will only stay in Iraq as long as we are welcome. Because NATO full…

RT (2020-02-13). Two rockets strike K-1 base hosting US troops in Kirkuk, Iraq. rt.com At least two unguided missiles have hit the K-1 base hosting US troops outside Kirkuk in Iraq. There are no reports of casualties or damage. A similar attack in December that killed a US contractor almost sparked a war with Iran.

RT (2020-02-13). \'Worst idea ever!\' Plans for Greta mural on North Dakota bakery scrapped after community outcry & boycott threats on social media. rt.com A planned mural featuring teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg in North Dakota has been tossed to the wind after news of the project stoked outrage among locals, who flooded social media with protests and threats to boycott. | The 7-foot mural was slated to be posted on an exterior wall of the Brick Oven Bakery in the city of Bismarck, however when local media outlet KFYR-TV brought the story to its Facebook page on Tuesday night, residents were immediately up in arms, with the

Cameron Orr (2020-02-13). U.S. public gets fake news about China\'s alleged anti-Muslim campaign. peoplesworld.org Editor\'s Note: The following opinion article was written in response to Hanukkah: A holiday rooted in struggle against imperialism, which was published in People\'s World on Dec. 23, 2019. That earlier article mentioned the situation for Muslims living in China\'s Xinjiang region within the context of another topic; this contribution offers a more in-depth perspective …

RT (2020-02-13). US charges Huawei with RACKETEERING & attempting to steal American trade secrets. rt.com The US Justice Department has issued a new indictment against China\'s telecommunications giant that is likely to further strain relations between Beijing and Washington. Huawei is now accused of stealing American technologies. | The indictment filed in the federal court in Brooklyn, New York, states that Huawei conspired to steal trade secrets from as many as six US companies, including router source code, cellular antenna and robotics technologies. | The Justice Department says the actions were part of the company\'s \"decades-long\" practice of \"misappropriating\" sophisticated US technologies through \"fraud and…

Kenneth Surin (2020-02-13). Coded Messages About Australia\'s Big Burn. counterpunch.org The Australian wildfires, which started in August last year, have receded from media attention outside Australia. The fires have (so far) killed 34 people and an estimated 1 billion native animals since August. Approximately 2,500 homes have been destroyed and more than 26.2 million acres have been razed.

Mike Garrity (2020-02-13). Timber Industry Wants to Rape-and-Run on Our National Forests. counterpunch.org When Idaho billionaire Ron Yanke purchased the timber mills in Townsend and Livingston, Montana years ago to form RY Timber, he also bought lots of former Anaconda Mining Company timberland. But just like Champion International and Plum Creek Timber who, according to a University of Montana study, cut trees 3 times faster than they could grow back, RY has already overcut their private land.

Sam Pizzigati (2020-02-13). Living in Inequality, Dying in Despair. counterpunch.org The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released some welcome news late last month: Americans are living a tiny bit longer. In 2018, the federal health agency reported, U.S. life expectancy at birth inched up about a month, from 78.6 to 78.7 years. The Trump administration, predictably, claimed credit for the increase, the first

Vijay Prashad (2020-02-13). Bolivia: An Election in the Midst of an Ongoing Coup. counterpunch.org On May 3, 2020, the Bolivian people will go to the polls once more. They return there because President Evo Morales had been overthrown in a coup in November 2019. Morales had just won a presidential election in October for a term that would have begun in January 2020. Based on a preliminary investigation by

George Wuerthner (2020-02-13). The Problem With Wilderness Collaboration. counterpunch.org Recently there has been a spate of commentaries advocating collaboration as a means of resolving issues surrounding which public lands should be given the \"Gold Standard\" of wilderness protection under the 1964 Wilderness Act. Advocates of collaboration, including some representatives of Montana\'s various conservation organizations, argue that only collaboration can \"resolve\" the issues in today\'s

Steven Salaita (2020-02-13). How Bernie Sanders Became a \"Fighter\" for Palestine. counterpunch.org With the Democratic primary in full swing, the outlines of public debate are pretty much entrenched. Common wisdom on the left says that all of the candidates are bad on Palestine except for Bernie Sanders. Despite some problems, pundits declare, Sanders is still the best. Is the statement true, though, or is it a convenient truism?

Ellen Taylor (2020-02-13). The Rage of the Barred Owl. counterpunch.org The Rage of the Barred Owl When Moon unmasks your naked face And gilds your gun with diamonds green I mark your progress from afar. You stumble toward my roosting place, Studying your tiny screen, Tracking an artificial star. You killed my wife some dawns ago, Fooled by your telescopic sight: She was a Northern

RT (2020-02-13). US Senate strikes symbolic blow against Trump by limiting war powers toward Iran with new resolution. rt.com The US Senate has passed a resolution limiting President Donald Trump\'s war powers in the case of Iran. The measure would only allow the president authority to strike in the case of self-defense or an imminent attack. | Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the measure, which was passed 55-45. The resolution fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto, meaning this resolution is more symbolic than anything. | The president made his feelings on the War Powers Resolution clear on Wednesday when he tweeted that Iran would \"have a field day\" if his hands \"were tied\" due…

RT (2020-02-13). 'Actually dangerous\': Samantha Bee\'s denunciation of PragerU shows liberals still don\'t get the allure of the forbidden. rt.com Liberal comedian Samantha Bee has said she fears YouTube powerhouse PragerU is brainwashing kids by disguising right-wing propaganda as educational content — but her fear is the best endorsement the outlet could hope for. | Calling the popular conservative channel \"actually dangerous,\" Bee warned it was \"trick[ing] kids into thinking their videos are educational\" in a tweet posted on Wednesday night.